Glimpses of The Devi Bhagavatam: 30. A BOON GRANTED

 

INDIAN MYTHOLOGY

Glimpses of The Devi Bhagavatam:

30. A BOON GRANTED

The Gundharva couple carried the child to Indra’s abode. “We found this wonderful baby on the banks of the Tamasa, in a dense forest. We don’t know anything about its parentage, but we would love to nurse it with your approval,” Champak told Indra.

Indra looked at the child and smiled.

“This is born of the emanations of Vishnu and Lakshmi. Turvasu, the son of King Yayati, is destined to adopt the child. Go and leave the child where you found it,” advised Indra.

“Can’t the course of destiny be altered? Suppose if we bring up the babe?” asked Madalasa.

“I assure you that we’ll never neglect taking care of the child,” said Champak, strengthening his wife’s plea.

“How do you think of going against what has already been ordained? It was necessary for the child to be shifted from the river-bank for a while because some wild elephants were coming its way. Now the horde has gone away from that area. I tell you once again: go and leave the child wherver you found it,” said Indra.

Champak and Madalasa did as directed by Indra.

King Turvasu, through his meditation, pleased Vishnu. Appearing before him, Vishnu asked, “What is the boon you ask for?”

“The boon of a son, O Lord!” Turvasu replied in extreme humility.

“You’ll get the child that is born of my emanation. Proceed at once to the bank of Tamasa where it meets river Kalindi. It should not be difficult for you to trace the child,” said Vishnu.

Turvasu was delighted. As soon as Vishnu disappeared, he reached the river-bank and saw the child. He could not take his eyes away.

“My child, it is Vishnu’s Grace that has given you to me,” said Turvasu as he took the child up. He hurried to his palace. The capital of King Turvasu went festive. The queen’s joy knew no bounds.

The child bore two names, Haihaya and Ekvir. He grew up to be a brilliant prince, mastering on one hand the laws of ethics and the principles of ruling a kingdom, and on the other the science of warfare.

King Turvasu and his queen made the prince ascend the throne and left for the forest, to pass their remaining days in meditation.

The young king, Ekvir, ruled his kingdom justly and wisely. The subjects prospered. There were demons in the forests, but they were quite scared of the young king. They did not dare disturb his subjects. Bandits and thieves totally disappeared. The people roamed about without any fear.

One day, while taking a stroll along the banks of the Ganga, Ekvir saw a beautiful woman standing alone, looking remorseful.

“Are you a human being or a nymph? What ails you? Should you be pleased to tell me what your problem is, I’ll do my best to find a solution,” said Ekvir.

“I am Yasowati, an inmate in the palace of the good king Ravya and queen Rukmarekha. The royal couple once performed a Yajna and received from the sacred fire a daughter–like a charming doll of gold. She brought great joy to all. The priest named her Ekavali. He asked the king to teach her everything in which a prince is usually trained.

“Princess Ekavali grew up into a beautiful young lady. She was extremely courageous. My father is King Ravyu’s minister. I’m one of the intimate friends of Princess Ekavali.

“The princess loves the hundred-petalled lotuses very much. She would often come in quest of them in the lakes in the forest. “The king created four lakes inside the compound of the palace and grew lotuses in them. He forbade the princess to go into the forest.

“But the princess did not give up the habit of wandering in the forest. At the earliest opportunity she would sneak into the wilderness along with myself and a few others.

“On learning of this practice of the princess, the king set apart a battalion of soldiers to safeguard her. “One day we came to a wondrous spot on the river-bank. We met a group of nymphs. They were bathing in the river. They invited the princess to join them. The princess accordingly entered the water while we stood on the bank. Behind us stood the soldiers.

“Suddenly there appeared the infamous demon Kalaketu. I signalled to the princess to be on her guard. She came out of the water and hid behind us. The nymphs flew away instantly.

“But the demon had spotted the princess. He dragged her away from our company. On hearing our shrieks, the bodyguards rushed upon the demon, but in vain. The demon had killed them all in no time.”